HIPS completed in 48 hours

Pack providers have defied the critics, turning around real-time orders for Home Information Packs (HIPs) in under 48 hours.

Since the launch of HIPs on 1st August, AHIPP members have achieved impressive turn around times, reporting a number of completed HIPs, which have already been processed and delivered to their owners.

Leading the way is pack provider Richards Gray, through estate agents Savills who provided a pack for a property in Long Marston, near Stratford upon Avon within 48 hours of the order being placed, and with the electronic version available to the estate agent within 30 hours. They are closely followed by Habitus through agents Knight Frank and the Property Search Group (PSG) in Liverpool, through TheHIPAlliance.com, involving local agents Sutton Kersh and solicitors EAD, all turning packs around in record times.

Contrary to earlier predictions, from those set against the introduction of packs, estate agents across the country have reported a smooth and efficient service from their designated pack providers.

Christopher Lacy of Savills said: “ In spite of all the unaddressed issues with HIPs, we have to deliver an efficient service to our clients. One of the main issues is the potential delay before agents can offer a client’s property to anyone – even quietly to ‘hot buyers’ on the telephone. We at Savills have set about matters professionally to ensure that any delay is minimal, and we are very pleased with the service that we have received from Richards Gray.”

James Oliver of Knight Frank said: “We placed our first order with Habitus on 1st August at 11.27am and received the completed pack on the 3rd at

8.42am. I was impressed with the efficient manner in which our order was dealt with and the pack was delivered and this has helped to alleviate my earlier fears that HIPs would slow down the initial impetus of bringing a property to the market.”

The speed at which the first packs have been turned around has allowed a smooth implementation, with consumers welcoming the packs and reporting a positive experience.

Paul Broadhead, Deputy Director General, AHIPP said: “As we have said all along, the industry is ready to deliver, and with our members reporting turnaround times of less than 48 hours, previous claims that the packs would slow down the process and cause disruption have been dismissed.

“The pack providing industry has placed considerable investment in ensuring that they are ready and able to process packs. Working with technology providers such as Quest and Thinking Applications, pack providers are able to ensure that HIPs are ordered, compiled and delivered efficiently, at the convenience of the agent and the consumer.”